Chicken pox dilemma Post Reply

[newmum83]

So...
We're due to go on holiday on 22nd June, but this weekend we saw some friends, and she's just told me her little one has just come down with chicken pox. We're supposed to be seeing them again this sunday and I've thought about exposing my daughter in the hope she'll be over it by the time we go- as I've heard it's going round and I'd rather get it over with now.
But there's a risk she'll incubate for ages and still be poorly when we're due to go! So should I keep her away from the girl and hope she doesn't get it, or expose her and get it over with? Obviously I don't want to make her ill, but at the same time if she's going to get it anyway it would be a shame for her to miss her holiday!
What would you do?
X

[Tils1]

Have you considered vacinating your child? You do two jabs one month apart (you should just have time) and then no chicken pox.... You have to pay for it. At our NHS GP it was about £50 but worth not having the problems of chicken pox...

[newmum83]

Thank you- I didn't know about that- its definitely worth doing!
X

[Twirly]

Think you'll find your child is already exposed if you saw them last weekend. Think they're most contagious in the few days before the spots appear.

My two had it this time last year. My eldest had it 2 weeks after her friend broke out in it, and my youngest got it 2 weeks after. We had the same issue in that we'd booked to go on holiday and I'd worked out my youngest would have the chicken pox when we were going to fly. I quickly took out some travel insurance so we could reclaim some of the cost.

The flight companies have really strict policies on chicken pox - if you are flying you'll need to check it out as with Easyjet you weren't able to fly for 10 days after the spots had scabbed.

[theessentialtouch]

Bear in mind it can take up to three weeks before your child shows signs of chicken pox after being exposed to the virus. It can then take a few weeks before all the spots scab over and they are no longer contagious.

I hope your daughter is ok, but probably not worth the risk of purposely exposing her so close to your holiday.

If you are unlucky and want to reduce the severity of the symptoms, try finding a local homeopath. My kids recovered really quickly when they both had chicken pox last year.

[newmum83]

Thank you for the advice. It's starting to look like a real possibility that we won't be able to go... My husband and I are starting to consider going for 3 days each as its a villa holiday with friends. Nightmare!

[gail0810]

You never know - you might be OK. My daughter has been exposed to chicken pox for weeks and weeks now - mixing with friends who have then gone on to develop it, as well as at her nursery where nearly all the children have had it now - but somehow we have still escaped it so far - don't know how!! So you might be completely fine for your holiday. It's hard to tell.

[AbbevilleMummy]

I wouldn't worry too much, my little girl has been exposed to chicken pox many times as there always seems to be someone at nursery school with it but hasn't come down with it yet.

Don't change any plans until you definitely know she's got it.

[Almaceti]

I also think it is more likely that the other child was contagious last weekend than she will be next weekend (if she started having spots yesterday she may not be contagious anymore after 4 to 5 days). And 22 June is in 4 weeks time! if your daughter's got it, it will probably be before you go.
Also I wouldn't necessarily cancel the holidays. if you are going in a villa, she might be as well as at home. From my experience both my children had spots for 5 to 7 days but they were only unwell for 24 hours (a bit miserable with temperature, but easily manageable with calpol), the rest of the time they just played as usual... it will depend on how you travel I suppose.

[newmum83]

Thank you! Annoyingly we are going to Ibiza - so driving might be a bit of a hassle - but I'd rather do that than miss our holiday!
My husband has offered to stay at home with her so I can go on holiday if the worst came to the worst (it's a group of my girlfriends and their families going) but that's a whole new dilemma!

[AbbevilleMummy]

Hey Tils1, can I ask which GP you used at £50? I had a quote earlier this week of £400 for my 2.

[JDMummy]

You never know if she is going to get it. I know a few children who had chicken pox but their symptoms were so mild and the kids were not bothered much by it at all. My son had so few spots, no fever. GP said that was it he had plenty spots to say he HAD it now. Personally I would bring some stuff from boots with you, in case you need it while you are on holiday. Don't change your holiday plan. Good luck!

[Joe's Mum]

Just to add to the info. My first one came down with it exactly 2 weeks after exposure, and just had one feverish night and a day enjoying watching telly on the sofa and milking it. The second one came down exactly two weeks later and was a bit worse but only for two or three days really.
Good Luck

[newmum83]

Thanks for that! Hopefully she'll come down with it this weekend if she's going to... Just to be on the safe side I decided to have her vaccinated. I had it done at a travel clinic near Oval and it cost £65 per injection, and she needs two. I feel a bit more relaxed now!!
X

[BalhamMumWorkingFT]

If you get her vaccinated now even after exposure, I believe they are still known to work and not get them. Good Luck,